Wildest Dreams

Meredith: You don’t give up do you?
Tyler: Do you think I would be here if I did?
Meredith: I think you’re persistent.
Tyler: I don’t give up on anything in my life. If I gave up when times got tough I would probably be graduating college this year instead of playing hockey in the NHL.

Meredith’s phone rang and she went over to look at it. She saw who it was and hit ignore. She started to walk away and the phone rang again. It was the same person. This time she just let it go instead of clicking ignore.

Tyler: Are you sure you don’t need to get that?
Meredith: I’ve never been so sure about anything in my life.
Tyler: Do you mind me asking who it is?
Meredith: It is someone who no longer matters in my life.
Tyler: This sounds like a good story.
Meredith: Nope, its not. Do you want to get back to working out? You should probably gain some more muscle before your game. You’re looking a little scrawny.
Tyler: Hey! I am not scrawny! I have very little body fat. I’m all muscle baby.
Meredith: Wanna race around the track?
Tyler: If you don’t mind losing.
Meredith: Who said you would win?
Tyler: Have you seen me on skates? I’m fucking Dash from The Incredibles.
Meredith: I’m going to let you in on a little secret.
Tyler: What’s that?
Meredith: You’re not on skates right now. And you’re already behind.

Meredith took off running and Tyler jumped to catch up. They made a full lap around the track and Tyler beat Meredith to the finish line by half a second.

Tyler: What were you saying about winning? Guess you really did need that jump-start.
Meredith: Whatever. I was a swimmer, not a runner.
Tyler: We can go again and I’ll let you win this time.
Meredith: Hell no. There’s no point in racing if you let someone win. That’s false confidence. You have to earn a win.
Tyler: I like the way you think.
Meredith: Apparently that’s not all you like about me.
Tyler: That is very true. I do like a lot of things about you.
Meredith: You’re such a charmer. I think that’s how you got to where you are in your career. You charmed your way in.
Tyler: Hey, I was the number two draft pick my year; you can’t charm your way into that.
Meredith: Oh you can. I see it all the time. You forget that I work around athletes all day everyday.
Tyler: I like to forget that.
Meredith: Jealous?

Tyler gave Meredith a half smile and winked.

Meredith: I’ll take that as a yes.
Tyler: What are you doing tonight?
Meredith: Nothing.
Tyler: I’m sorry; did you just say that you don’t have New Year’s Eve plans?
Meredith: Yeah…
Tyler: Well then you’re coming out with me tonight.
Meredith: No thank you.
Tyler: Why? I promise I won’t try anything on you. You need to do something. It’s a holiday!
Meredith: I’m really not in the mood for celebrating anything.
Tyler: Look; you need this New Year more than anyone right now. You need to celebrate.
Meredith: The funny thing about the new year though, is that even though it’s a new year, only the date changes and all the shit still going on in everyone’s life stays the same.
Tyler: Well you need to forget all the shit going on in your life for tonight.
Meredith: You’re probably right.
Tyler: Wait, I’m sorry. I didn’t quite catch that. Can you say that again please?

Meredith stared at Tyler for a moment.

Meredith: I want a rematch.
Tyler: Fine, but this time we’re making a bet.
Meredith: Oh we are?
Tyler: Yes. If I win you’re going out with me and celebrating—
Meredith: And if I win?
Tyler: That’s not going to happen so we don’t need to worry about that.
Meredith: You’re such an ass.
Tyler: I don’t think your grandfather would approve of that language young lady.

Tyler laughed at himself.

Meredith: He would probably have a lot worse names to call you. You got off easy with being called an ass. And you didn’t know him so you can’t say that.
Tyler: Fine, what do you want if you win?
Meredith: I want you to leave me alone.
Tyler: No you don’t.
Meredith: But don’t I?
Tyler: The more you say it the more I want you.
Meredith: The more you want me the more I want to run. Like this.

Meredith took off on the track again but this time Tyler was anticipating her taking a head start. He was quick on his feet and quickly caught up to her, this time beating her to the finish line by a good two seconds.

Tyler: Looks like I win like I said I would. Told you we didn’t have to worry about what you want.
Meredith: I really don’t like you.
Tyler: We should probably get going so we can get ready for tonight.
Meredith: Where you kidnapping me to this time?
Tyler: A New Years Eve party with a bunch of the guys from the team. It’s at the Omni in Downtown. We rented a penthouse.
Meredith: You guys just love to spend your money don’t you?
Tyler: We work hard for it. We like to enjoy it.

Meredith and Tyler gathered their things and left Change Up. Meredith was locking the door when her phone started ringing again.

Tyler: Someone really wants to talk to you.
Meredith: Well it’s too late now. They had their chance.
Tyler: Are you really not going to tell me this story? It sounds so interesting.
Meredith: But if I told you, I couldn’t keep you guessing and what fun would that be? I’ve already told you one major thing going on in my life today, this can wait for another time.
Tyler: You’re such a tease.
Meredith: What time are you picking me up tonight?
Tyler: 10.
Meredith: I’m at my parent’s house in McKinney so text me when you get there and I’ll run out to the gate. I’ll text you the address.
Tyler: Can’t wait.

Meredith and Tyler each got into their cars and left the facility. Tyler called Jamie on his way home.

Tyler: Hey, I need to talk to you. Are you home?
Jamie: Yeah. What’s the matter?
Tyler: I’ll be there in a few minutes.

Tyler hung up the phone and went to Jamie’s house. He left himself in and started hollering for Jamie. He found Jamie in the kitchen, along with Jordie and Jason.

Tyler: Fuck you two are here too?
Jason: Well hello to you too.
Tyler: I didn’t mean it like that. I just need to talk to Jamie.
Jordie: You know whatever you tell him he’s going to tell me and then I’m going to tell Demers so you might as well just talk to all of us.
Tyler: I swear we are a bunch of high school girls. And yes I know, that’s why I was going to talk to him. You all would find out, I just didn’t want to have this conversation with all of you.
Jamie: What is this about?
Tyler: I don’t even know where to start.
Jason: It’s mystery girl!
Jamie: Oh my God yes!
Jordie: Start talking!
Tyler: Calm the fuck down. I just went and worked out with her and she lost a bet we made so she’s coming out with me tonight.
Jason: You had to make a bet for a girl to agree to going out with you for a night? I think you’ve hit rock bottom.
Tyler: Shut up and listen. I don’t want you fuckboys making a big deal out of this and I want you to pretend to be gentlemen for a night.
Jamie: We would never do anything to make a big deal out of you having a date to a party on New Year’s Eve.
Tyler: This is what I’m talking about. No shenanigans.
Jordie: We’ll just tell her all your dirty and embarrassing secrets.
Tyler: Don’t do anything to fuck this up for me. She’s got a lot going on and I want her to have fun tonight.
Jamie: You really like her don’t you?
Tyler: I just want her to have a good night, okay.
Jason: Can we finally know her name?
Tyler: You’ll meet her tonight. I need to go home and shower. Remember, be gentlemen tonight and no tomfoolery!

Tyler left Jamie’s and went home to shower and get ready. He put on dress pants, a button down shirt and rolled the sleeves up to show off some of his tattoos. At 9:30 he headed towards Meredith to pick her up. He got to her house and pulled up to the gate that kept him from being able to pull up to the front door in the driveway. He sent her a quick text that he was there and two minutes later Meredith walked out of the house wearing a blue dress with sequins on it and hot pink heels. When Meredith started walking to the car Tyler got out to open the door for her.

Tyler: You look very nice.
Meredith: Thank you. So do you.

Meredith got in the car and Tyler shut the door behind her. Tyler got into the drivers seat and the headed towards the hotel.

Tyler: Thanks for coming with me tonight. I know you didn’t want to.
Meredith: Thanks for making me come.
Tyler: So you don’t hate me right now?
Meredith: Not at the moment, but you know how quickly that changes.
Tyler: You’re not afraid to say whatever you want, are you?
Meredith: Nah, life is too boring that way. If you can’t speak your mind then you’re just being a fraud.
Tyler: I think that’s called sparing people’s feelings.
Meredith: You can speak your mind and still be nice…
Tyler: I never hear anything nice from you.
Meredith: Whatever. I just told you you look nice. That was nice. And I didn’t fight you about coming out tonight after you won our bet.
Tyler: You’re going to make me work for your affection, aren’t you?
Meredith: Maybe. At least if you ever get it you’ll know it’s genuine.

Tyler pulled up to the hotel and valeted his car. They got out and went to the elevators that took them up to the penthouse. Most of the people were already there when they arrived, including Jamie, Jordie and Jason. Tyler made his way through the crowd to the bar.

Tyler: I’ll have a Crown & Coke.

Tyler turned to Meredith.

Meredith: Bourbon, neat.
Tyler: Damn. I thought you were underage.
Meredith: This is a party, not a bar. Can’t get in as much trouble here.
Tyler: You never know.
Meredith: That’s true. I never know with you.

The bartender handed them their drinks and Tyler grabbed Meredith’s hand while making his way through the room. They made their way to the side near a table when Jamie spotted them.

Jamie: Tyler!
Tyler: Hey Chubbs. Meredith, this is Jamie. Jamie, Meredith.
Meredith: Nice to meet you.
Jamie: Finally, a name for mystery girl.

Jamie looked towards Jordie and Jason and yelled for them to come here.

Meredith: Mystery girl?
Tyler: Its nothing.

Jordie and Jason had made their way over.

Jordie: Mystery girl in the flesh. No way! I’m Jordie.
Jason: I’m Jason!
Meredith: Nice to meet y’all, I’m Meredith.
Jason: Finally a name for mystery girl.
Tyler: Guys knock it off
Meredith: So clearly I’m mystery girl, anyone want to tell me why I am being called that? Tyler?
Jordie: Yeah Tyler, want to tell her why we’ve had to call her mystery girl for the past few weeks?
Tyler: All of you are assholes. They were all at Jumping Jacks the night I met you and I wouldn’t tell them anything. Sometimes I like to keep things to myself.
Meredith: Well, here I am. In the flesh. I’m no longer a mystery girl.
Tyler: Oh you’re still a mystery all right.
Meredith: Its fun to keep you guessing.
Jamie: You’re going to give Tyler a run for his money. I think we’re going to be best friends.
Meredith: I’ll hold you to that.
Jason: Are you coming to the game tomorrow?
Meredith: No, I have a lot of family in town so I’ll be with them tomorrow.
Jordie: You know we can get you tickets for everyone…
Meredith: No that’s okay. Thank you though.
Jamie: Are you sure? I am the captain.
Meredith: So I’ve heard.
Tyler: Guys, she said she can’t make it, she can’t make.

Tyler turned towards Meredith.

Tyler: Want to go dance?
Meredith: I don’t dance, remember?
Tyler: No, I remember you dancing. A lot actually.
Meredith: Fine, but only for a little bit.

Meredith and Tyler hit the dance floor for a while until the countdown started to ring in the New Year. The entire suite started yelling out the countdown.

10…9…8…7…6…5…4…3…2…1… The countdown reached one and Tyler quickly turned to Meredith and kissed her. Meredith was caught off guard but fell into the kiss when Tyler pulled her in closer. The suite started cheering for the New Year and they both pulled back from the kiss, laughing and smiling at themselves. Meredith pulled Tyler in to give him a hug.

Meredith: Thank you.
Tyler: No, thank you.

Tyler pulled back from the hug, planting a quick kiss on Meredith and started cheering with the crowd. They did a few shots until Tyler said that was enough since he had to drive home and they had a game the next day. About an hour later Meredith and Tyler left the party and he took her home. When Tyler got to Meredith’s house she opened the gate so he was able to pull up to the front door this time. They sat in the car for a minute.

Meredith: I don’t know why you are so persistent and won’t give me up or move on, but thank you for making me come out tonight. I had a really good time.
Tyler: Thank you for not fighting me and going out.
Meredith: Don’t get used to it though.
Tyler: So far, out of the many things I’ve learned about you, the biggest thing I’ve learned is that the only thing predictable about you is that you are so incredibly unpredictable.
Meredith: I think you’ve figured out more about me in just a few weeks than some people have in years of knowing me.
Tyler: Are you sure you don’t want to come to the game tomorrow? Bring your cousin. You said she’s a big hockey fan. I’ll even get you passes to come to the locker room after the game.
Meredith: You don’t have to do that.
Tyler: I want to.
Meredith: I feel bad if you give me tickets…
Tyler: Why? I get them for free and sadly we don’t sell out every game so I can them for you easy.
Meredith: Tyler, I don’t know.
Tyler: I’m leaving two tickets under your name at will call tomorrow. I know where you’ll be sitting so I better see you.
Meredith: Fine. I’ll call my cousin in the morning.
Tyler: Good. May I walk you up to the door?
Meredith: No, because then that makes this a date and this was not a date.
Tyler: You’re killing me here.
Meredith: I know.

Meredith smirked and got out of the car. Tyler watched her go inside the house and then headed home to get some sleep before morning skate and his game the next day.

Notes

This chapter is based a little bit off of Don't It by Billy Currington.

Let me know what you think! Comment and rate. I like feedback :)

Also, I'm going to be traveling soon so I'm not sure how often I'll be able to post for the next week or so.